Attendance

Attendance Matters

Did You Know?

We value every student’s contributions to our school community and miss them when they are gone. Regular, daily attendance is one of the most important things a student can do to be successful in all grade levels.

All absences (excused and unexcused) have the potential of harming students academically.

Students who miss 10 percent (18 days) of the school year, or two or more days a month, are defined as being chronically absent.

By sixth grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

By ninth grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than eighth-grade test scores.

It takes an average of three days for a student to catch up from every one day of being absent.

Missing three or more days of school per month can set a student back up to two full years of learning.

Three school tardies equal one absence.

Assess Your Child's Attendance

Take an assessment of where your child is halfway through the school year and learn what you can do to help.

7-9 Absences: The Danger Zone

There is a good chance your child has fallen behind academically. Develop a plan with the school to help your child get to school on time and attend regularly.

4-6 Absences: The Warning Zone

Your child's learning may be affected. Pay special attention to make sure your child is keeping up with the work.

0-3 Absences: The Satisfactory Zone

Your child has good attendance. Celebrate and make a goal with your child to have even better attendance.

What You Can Do

Make School Attendance a Priority

Discuss the importance of showing up to school every day with children.

Book appointments outside the school day or on non-school days.

Help children stay healthy by ensuring they get plenty of sleep, eat a balanced diet, wash their hands regularly, and are up-to-date on immunizations.

Keep children home only if they are truly sick. Complaints of headaches or stomachaches may be signs of anxiety.

Set Regular Bedtime and Morning Routines

Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and going to bed on time.

Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.

Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.

Help Your Child Stay Engaged

Find out if children feel engaged by their classes and safe from bullies and other threats.

Ensure children are keeping up with school work so they are not tempted to miss school if they haven’t done their homework or studied for a test.

Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.

Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.

Communicate with Your School

Know the school’s attendance policy including incentives and penalties

Talk to teachers if you notice sudden changes in your child’s behavior. These could be due to something going on at school.

Check on your child’s attendance to be sure absences are not piling up.

Ask for help from school officials, after-school programs, other parents or community agencies if you are having trouble getting your child to school.

We’re Here to Help

Please partner with us to ensure your student attends regularly and is successful in school.

We know students may be absent from school for a variety of reasons. Our attendance office, school nurse, counselor, and teachers are prepared to help if your student is unable to make it to school regularly or on time.

We will track attendance daily, document when your student is missing from class, communicate with you to understand why the absence occurred, and identify barriers and supports available to overcome challenges you may face in helping your student attend school.